Aria, Spencer, Emily, and Hannah are still being bothered by the secrets they thought had gone away when they tied them to a ballon and let them go. But, just when everything seems to be going good again and all the prices start to fit, will they st...
I pulled up my black, thigh high socks before I walked into the oh so familiar coffee shop. I saw mom talking to an older woman and-I'm guessing-her husband.
I sighed and walked over to the closest painting. To me, all of the paintings I see have some kind of story to tell. Even the ones that looked like something I did in kindergarten.
This one had a common color of blue, which to me meant that this person painted out of sadness or remorse. I closed my eyes and tried to picture the artist and how they thought when they were painting. I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see Ezra.
"Oh, umm, hi." I stumbled for words as his eyes scanned the painting casually.
"Hello, I was just wondering who this piece of art was by..." he peered around me to get a glimpse of the small plaque that had the name of the painting and the artist.
"Oh, sorry," I stepped out to the side and turned around to face the painting again.
"You look nice." He spoke up after a while. We had surprisingly moved to three new paintings and I was gazing at one of a girl in a tree reaching towards the stars in the dark sky.
I looked down at the short black dress, the black socks, and the black heels I was wearing, then back to him.
"Thanks... you too." His light blue, collared shirt and navy sweater was normal for him and so were the kaki pants.
"Ahhh, this. I wear it all the time." I smiled and moved to the next picture. This one was different. It was smaller and was in pastel. It was a girl swinging in a tree swing a a boy leaning up against the tree. The girl had mid-length brown hair and the boy had almost the same hair color. The girl was wearing a black skirt and a red top. Her hair was flying behind her as well as two balloons. I looked down at the plaque and saw that it was called Secrets.
"What does it make you think of?" Ezra asked me. I rolled my eyes.
"You know, it is not school hours. Right?" He laughed and looked down at his feet for a second before looking back up at me.
"Yes, I know." I sighed and looked back at the painting.
"It makes me think of my secrets. It makes me think of my secrets and how I need to let them go. I don't want to though. It seems so hard, you know?" I walked over to the back corner chair and took a seat, Ezra taking the one in front of me. I crossed my legs and continued.
"I feel like my secrets are always following me no matter where I go and I can't do anything about it. It's like in the picture how her balloons were tied to her wrist and they were just floating behind her. Like a secret. Like my secrets." I was staring at the fire, mesmerized by the blue and orange colors, all blending together.
"Aria," Ezra scooted closer, sitting on the edge of his seat. "I had no idea that it was like that for you. Have you told anybody what you just told me?" I laughed and shook my head.
"Ezra, I was the last person to tell about A. Do you honestly think that I would tell anybody about something as small as this?" I laughed quietly.
"Aria, I-"
"Aria!" I turned to see mom walking towards me with a huge smile on her face.
"Mom," I stand up and start towards her.
"Oh, honey, I'm so glad you decided to come!" She opened her arms and hugged me.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world." Mom pulled away and looked behind me.
"Who's your friend?" She smiled holding out her hand.
"Mom, this is Mr. Fitz, he's my English teacher." He took mom's hand and shook it twice then stuffed his hands in his pockets like he always did.
"You must be that fantastic Ms. Montgomery." He smiled his professional smile that always seemed to please other teachers and parents.
"Ah, please, call me Ella. And fantastic? Please," She waved her hand and smiled.
"Well you have to be fantastic to have created such a wonderful young lady," I looked at Ezra as heat filled my cheeks. Mom laughed and turned to look behind her.
"Well I must be going. I have to make my closing speech then we'll close up. Aria, do you mind going home to check on your brother? I promise I'll be home no later than 11." I sighed.
"Yeah, whatever. Have fun mom." I mumbled and headed for the door. I stopped by the bar to grab my sweater and a coffee and then walked out the door.
"Hey, Aria," I turned around to see Ezra jogging towards me.
"Sorry, Ezra, I've got some place to be right now and it's called 261 Life Lane." I opened my door and turned back to face him.
"Aria, come on. I'm sorry, I really am. And, hey, I have a life." I rolled my eyes at him.
"Look, Ezra, I've got to go and pick up my brother-" I looked down at my black watch then back up at him, "-and he'll be expecting me soon." I tried to turn around and get in but he grabbed the door frame, stopping me.
"Aria, please just listen to what I have to say." I sighed and turned back around to face him once again.
"Thank you. I just anted to say that I'm sorry and you were right. She was a jerk and I broke up with her a month ago. I've been thinking about you all of the time and it's driving me crazy, Aria. I'm going mad without-" I shut the door and fell into his arms, planting my lips on his. He stood for a moment the wrapped his arms around me and pulled my feet off the ground.
Thunder rolled across the sky when he set me back on the ground.
"Should you go?" We both looked up and saw the dark clouds covering the moon.
"Come with me?" He smiled and peck my lips, opening my door and then running around to his side of the car.
"Anywhere," he whispered and held my hand as I drove to my house.
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